The importance of individual vigilance in data protection
The Wired article, "What Doctors Wish You Knew About HIPAA and Data Security," delves into the limitations and misunderstandings surrounding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in safeguarding personal health data. It highlights that HIPAA primarily regulates healthcare entities but does not cover consumer-generated data or information shared outside traditional medical...
What to consider if you shared your DNA data
Genetic profiling company 23andMe is currently investigating a data scraping incident where private user information was stolen from its website. The confirmation came five days after an undisclosed entity advertised the sale of private data of millions of 23andMe users on an online crime forum. The alleged stolen data included details like origin estimation, phenotype, health records, photographs, and other...
The Implications and Risks of Unauthorized DNA Data Access
As DNA testing becomes more commonplace, the information it reveals — from our ancestral roots to health predispositions — becomes a tantalizing target for malicious actors. Beyond the obvious concerns of identity theft and fraud, the article delves into more nuanced threats, including blackmail based on genetic secrets, potential discrimination from employers or insurers, and the unsettling prospects...
Medtronic reported a cybersecurity breach in its Paceart Optima System
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has announced that Medtronic identified a cybersecurity vulnerability in its Paceart Optima System, a platform that manages cardiac device data. This vulnerability is linked to an optional messaging feature. CISA has advised healthcare organizations to liaise with Medtronic's technical support for system updates and to minimize network exposure by...
Managing privacy, security, and safety as your health information technologies decline
In the field of archival science, the term 'inherent vice' refers to the internal qualities or elements of certain objects that make them naturally prone to deterioration, regardless of the quality of care they receive (Menne-Haritz, 1993). When applying this concept to personal health information management (PHIM), it becomes a metaphor for the challenges that are inherently present in managing health...